The Minnesota Vikings continue to have a need at cornerback, but do they need to take one in round one? The cornerback class is really deep and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah likes to maximize the market. That could mean waiting on the position.
For The Win’s Christian D’Andrea disagrees by sending Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks to the Vikings at 23rd overall.
Signing Byron Murphy was a great buy-low(ish) move for a team pressed hard against the salary cap. Adding Banks would add another high-upside option to a needy secondary. The Vikings ranked 26th in pass defense DVOA, ranked 21st in passer rating allowed and just lost their best corner, Patrick Peterson, to leave in free agency.
Banks can be a plug-and-play starter with the potential to be so much more. He was one of the combine’s fastest participants and at 6-feet is big enough to hold his own in jump ball situations downfield. He also allowed just 4.3 yards per target in coverage last season at Maryland, punishing quarterbacks who turned his way and proving he can be a top option against WR1s.
It’s no secret that the Vikings need help in the secondary and Banks would provide that in droves. His performance against Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. is what sold me on him and as he continues to trust himself, he will only get better.